Who linked low IQ to criminality in the context of feeblemindedness?

The correct answer is linked to Henry Goddard, who is known for his work in the early 20th century that connected low intelligence, particularly as measured by IQ tests, to criminal behavior. Goddard was a psychologist who played a significant role in the popularization of the concept of "feeblemindedness," which he believed was a hereditary condition that could lead to a higher propensity for criminality. He conducted studies using the Binet-Simon scale, an early intelligence test, and advocated for the idea that individuals with lower IQs were more likely to engage in criminal acts.

Goddard's work was influential in shaping the understanding of intelligence and its perceived connection to criminal behavior during that time, contributing to the stigmatization of individuals with intellectual disabilities and underscoring a controversial area of criminological thought. By focusing on the link between cognitive ability and crime, he laid the groundwork for subsequent discussions about the social implications of mental ability.

Other figures like Cesare Lombroso focused more on physical attributes and the idea of the "born criminal," while Sigmund Freud and Charles Darwin are associated with different frameworks of understanding human behavior and evolution, respectively, but did not specifically make a direct connection between low IQ and criminality